public health Flashcards
What are the 5 levelsof Maslows heirachy of needs
physiogial needs
safety needs
love and belonging
esteem
sel-actualisation
What is epigenetics
The study of how genes interact with the environment. Changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.
What is allostasis
The process of achieving stability, or homeostasis, through physiological or behavioural change.
What is allostatic load
The wear and tear on the body that accumulates as an individual is exposed to repeated or chronic stress. The price we pay for allostasis
Define domestic abuse
Incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16+ who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
3 examples of domestic abuse
Emotional
physical
financial
sexual
psychological
How man domestic abuse impact on health?
- Traumatic injuries following assault e.g. fractures, miscarriage.
- Somatic problems or chronic illness e.g. chronic pain, headaches.
- Psychological problems e.g. PTSD, depression, anxiety
Give 3 indication sof domestic abuse
Unwitnessed by anyone else.
Repeat attendances to GP or A+E.
Delay in seeking help.
Multiple minor injuries.
What assessment tool can be used to determine someones risk of domestic abuse?
DASH
What action would you take if someone was at high risk of domestic abuse?
Refer to MARAC or IDVAS
What is public health
The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organised efforts of society.
Define epidemiology
The study of the frequency, distribution and determinants of diseases and health-related states in populations in order to prevent and control disease.
Define incidience
The rate at which new diseases occur in a population in a certain time period.
Define prevelance
The proportion of a population found to have a disease at a point in time.
What is person-time a measure of
Person-time is a measure of risk. It is the sum of each individual’s time at risk ie. the length of time they were followed up in the study. It is the denominator in incidence rate calculations.
What value is used as the denominator in incidence rate calculations?
Person-time
What is relative risk
The risk in one category relative to another, for example, the ratio of risk of disease in the exposed to the risk in the unexposed. It tells us about the strength of association between a risk factor and a disease.
What calculation can be used to work out relative risk?
Incidence in exposed ÷ incidence in unexposed.
Define attributable risk.
The rate of disease in the exposed that may be attributed to the exposure. It tells us about the size of effect in absoloute terms.
How can you calculate attributable risk?
Incidence in the exposed - incidence in the unexposed.
What is NNT
A
Number needed to treat is the number of patients that need to be treated in order to have an impact on one person.
How can you calculate NNT?
1 / absoloute risk reduction.
Define Bias
A systematic deviations from the true estimation of the association between exposure and outcome.
name 2 forms of bias
selection bias
information bias
What is selection bias?
The people who choose to participate in screening programmes may be different from those who don’t. Proper randomisation is not achieved.
What is information bias
Information or measurement bias can be due to observer, participant or instrument error.
what is length-time bias
Diseases with a longer period of presentation are more likely to be detected by screening than ones with a shorter time of presentation.
what is lead time bias
Screening identifies diseases earlier and so gives the impression that survival is prolonged but in reality survival time is unchanged
define confounding
Confounders are associated with exposure and outcome but are not on the causal path from exposure to disease.
Confounders may affect the validity of a study.
What is the Bradford Hill criteria for causation?
Consistency.
Biological plausibility.
Temporality - cause before disease.
Dose response.
Reversibility.
Strength of association.
name 5 study design
Ecological.
Cross-sectional.
Case-control.
Cohort.
RCT.
Q
Which type of study uses routinely collected population level date to show trends and to generate hypotheses
Ecological study
Which type of study looks at the population at a point in time?
A cross-sectional or prevalence study
Which type of study compares people with a disease to those without a disease for age, sex, habits, class etc?
A case-control study. These are retrospective.
Which type of study follows a population over time to see if they’re exposed to the agent in question and if they develop the disease?
A cohort or incidence study. These are prospective.
WHat is RCT
Where a population is randomised to either an interventional or a control group. Often these are blind or double-blind trials.
Which type of study is also known as an incidence study?
A cohort study - follows a population over time to see if they’re exposed to the agent in question and if they develop the disease
Which type of study is also known as a prevalence study
A cross-sectional study. It looks at the population at point in time.
Define primary prevention
Preventing a disease/condition from occurring in the first place. Eliminating RF’s that contribute to the disease
Give an example of a primary prevention method.
immunisation
Define secondary prevention
Detecting a disease as soon as possible in order to alter its course and to improve health outcomes.
Give an example of secondary prevention.
cervical smear
Define tertiary prevention.
Trying to slow down disease progression, avoiding complications and helping people to manage their illness effectively.
Give an example of tertiary prevention.
Diabetes management - diet advice, exercise programmes, self-monitoring, annual foot checks etc
What is the population approach to prevention? Give an example.
Preventative measures delivered on a population wide basis e.g. dietary salt reduction
Q
What is the high risk approach to prevention? Give an example.
Identifying individuals above a chosen cut-off and treating them. E.g. treating those with high cholesterol to avoid heart disease
Describe the prevention paradox
A preventative measure that brings much benefit to the population often offers little to each participating individual
Define screening
Identifying seemingly healthy individuals who may be at increased risk of disease
Give 4 different types of screening
1.Population based.
2.Opportunistic.
3. Screening for communicable diseases.
4. Pre-employment and occupational.
What is the Wilson and Jungner criteria for screenin
- The condition being screened for should be an important health problem.
- The natural history of the condition should be understood.
- There should be a detectable early stage.
- There should be a treatment available.
- Facilities for diagnosis and treatment need to be available.
- There should be a suitable test.
- The test should be acceptable to the population.
- There should be an agreed policy on whom to treat.
- The costs of screening must be balanced against benefits.
- Screening should be a continuous process, not just a one off.
Define sensitivity
The proportion of people with the disease who are correctly identified (a/a+c).
Define specificity.
The proportion of people without the disease who are correctly excluded by the screening test; how well a test detects those without a disease (d/b+d).
Define PPV
The proportion of people with a positive test result who actually have the disease (a/a+b).
define NPV
The proportion of people with a negative test result who do not have the disease (d/c+d
What are the 4 main determinants of health?
Lifestyle.
Access to healthcare.
Genes.
Environment
Define equity and eqality
Equity - what is fair and just.
b) Equality - equal shares.
Define horizontal equity.
Equal treatment for equal need.
Define vertical equity.
Unequal treatment for unequal need e.g. someone with a common cold would need a different treatment to someone with pneumonia.